teetotum

tee·to·tum

T0083700 (tē-tō′təm)n. A top, usually having four lettered sides, that is used to play various games of chance.

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[From earlier T totum (from the letter tee that appeared on one side of the toy), from totum, teetotum, from Latin tōtum, neuter sing. of tōtus, all; see teutā- in Indo-European roots.]

teetotum

(tiːˈtəʊtəm) n1. (Games, other than specified) a spinning top bearing letters of the alphabet on its four sides2. (Games, other than specified) such a top used as a die in gambling games[C18: from T totum, from T initial inscribed on one of the faces + totum the name of the toy, from Latin tōtum the whole]

tee•to•tum

(tiˈtoʊ təm)

n. a small top spun with the fingers, esp. one with four sides inscribed with letters. [1710–20; earlier T totum, alter. of totum name of toy (< Latin tōtum, neuter of tōtus all) by prefixing its initial letter, which appeared on one side of the toy]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

teetotum - a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin; "he got a bright red top and string for his birthday"spinning top, whirligig, tophumming top - a top that makes a humming noise as it spinspeg top - a pear-shaped top made of wood with a metal center pinplaything, toy - an artifact designed to be played withwhip top, whipping top - a top that is spun by whipping

Translations

trottolino